Suction cleaner structure



R. B. J. HULTBERG m-AL June 4, I957- SUCTION CLEANER STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 16, 1953 June 4, 1957 Filed Dec. 16, 1953 R. B. J. HULTBERG ETAL SUCTION CLEANER STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Shet. 2

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sucnou CLEANER STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 16, 4195s 4 Shsets-Sheet 4 59:10. FL Y apyrunnnn IN VEN TORE United States Patent sUcrroN CLEANER STRUCTURE Roi? Ber-til .iohannes Hultberg, Lilla Ess'ingen, and Tord Erik Daniel Bilde, Stockholm, Sweden, assignors to Aktiebolaget Elektrolux, otockholm, Sweden, 3 corporation of Sweden Application December 16, 1953,, Serial No. 398,574

Claims priority, application Sweden December, 1952 14 Claims. (Cl. 183-37) This invention relates to suction cleaners.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved suction cleaner which is simple to operate, and to provide a construction having a compact arrange'r'n'en't of parts.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this specification.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a suction cleaner embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the suction cleaner shown in Fig. l to illustrate details;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the suction cleaner shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a suction cleaner illustrating another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a top view of the suction cleaner illustrated in Fig. 4 with the cover omitted;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the suction cleaner shown in Fig. 4 to show details more clearly;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a suction cleaner illustrating a further embodiment of the invention;

7 Fig. 8 is a side vertical section of the suction cleaner shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a suction cleaner generally like that shown in Figs. 7 and 8 illustrating another modification of the invention;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevation of a suction cleaner illustrating a still further embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. '10, partly broken away and in section, to illustrate details.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the suction cleaner which we have shown embodying the invention comprises an elongated casing 10 which is generally oval-shaped in horizontal section and includes an open top shell 11 and a removable cover 12. The shell 11 comprises a bottom 14 and an upstanding side wall 15, elongated runners 16 being stamped from the bottom to facilitate movement of the cleaner on a supporting surface.

The open top shell 11 is provided with a cross wall or partition 17 to divide the shell into adjacent spaces 18 and 19. The top edge of the partition 17 and upper edge portions of the shell 11 define an access opening into the space 18 at which region is supported the top marginal edge of a perforated receptacle 20. The space 19, within which a motor fan unit 21 is mounted in any well known manner, is defined by the partition 17 and also by a top wall portion 22 of the shell '11, such top wall having an opening 22' therein.

In accordance with the invention the cover 12 is formed to provide a part of the air flow passage between the inlet 23 and outlet 24 and a dust separating member or filter ice element 25 is carried at the underside thereof. As seen in Fig. 2, the cover 12 includes a conduit section 26 into which air is drawn into the inlet 23 thereof which is located at the upper part of the casing 10 at the wider end thereof. The conduit section 26 is bent downwardly for directing air into the receptacle 20.

The cover 12 comprises an outer wall 27 and an inner lining or wall 28 spaced therefrom to provide an elongated passage 29. The part of the inner wall 28 above the space 18 includes a horizontally extending section 30 having an opening 31, the wall section 30 serving as a partition between the passage 29 and the filter element 25 which is secured in any suitable manner to a downwardly extending collar or flange 32 of annular form at the underside of the cover 12. The dust separating memebr 25, which is generally flexible in character, is formed with circular folds which are concentric with respect to one another, and the points of the folds may be arranged to pass over wires (not shown) which not only define the shape of the circular folds but also serve to reinforce the dust separating member.

A valve plate or disk 33 is fixed to the central region of the dust separating member immediately beneath the opening 31 in the inner wall section 30 of the cover 12. A suitable torsion spring 34 is provided at the underside of the cover 12 which resiliently biases the valve plate 33 to the position shown in Fig. 2. Under certain operating conditions which will be described presently, the valve plate 33 moves toward the opening 31 in the cover 12.

A suction hose (not shown) is adapted to be removably secured in any suitable manner to the inlet 23 of the suction cleaner. Suitable cleaning appliances may be connected to a wand which in turn is connected to the outer free end of the suction hose and through which air is drawn through the conduit section 26 by the motor fan unit 21.

During operation of the suction cleaner, dust-laden air is drawn through the conduit section 26 into a dust collecting bag 35 retained in the apertured receptacle 20. The bag 35 may be of the throw-away type and formed of paper or other suitable material impermeable to dust. Air from which dust and dirt have been separated by the filter element 25 flows through the opening 31 in the inner wall section 36 into the elongated passage 29 formed in the cover 12. Air flows from the passage 29 through the opening 22' into the space 19 in which the motor fan unit 21 is located. Air enters the suction inlet 36a of the unit 21 and is discharged therefrom through the outlet 24 at the rear end of the casing 10.

Since dust and dirt are trapped at the underside of the filter element 25, there is a tendency for the latter to become clogged during operation of the cleaner. When the filter element 25 becomes clogged with dirt to such an extent that the flow of air therethrough becomes restricted, the suction effect developed by the motor fan unit 21 tends to impart upward movement to the filter element against the biasing action of the torsion spring 34. With such upward movement of the filter element 25, the valve plate 33 moves toward the seat formed by the opening 31, such movement of the valve plate toward its seat being efie'ctive to dislodge dust and dirt from the filter element. It will be seen in Fig. 2 that the opening 31' is formed so that the long arm of the torsion spring 34, which is fixed to the valve plate 33, can move into a part of the opening.

After dust and dirt are dislodged from the filter element 25, the rate at which air fiows therethrough increases and the filter element tends to move downwardly, such downward movement being aided by the torsion spring 34. Due to movement imparted to the filter element in the manner just described, the filter element will vibrate up and down during operation of the cleaner and cause dust and dirt to be dislodged therefrom and-collect in the bag 35. There is always some flow of air through the opening 31 even when the valve plate 33 moves toward its seat at the opening 31, so that the valve plate 33 never completely closes the opening 31 and can move downwardlyrwith the aid of torsion spring 34 after dust and dirt are dislodged from the filter element.

7 The cover 12 is removably secured to the shell 11 in any suitable manner (not shown). To facilitate handling of the cover 12, the latter is formed with a raised section 36 which extends lengthwise of the cleaner and at opposing sides of which are formed horizontally extending deck portions 37. The opposing sides of the raised section 36 may be notched or recessed at 38 to provide a suitable hand grip at 39 for the cover 12. The shell 11 at the top part of the rear end thereof is provided with a suitable electrical switch having an operating member 50 projecting through an opening in the cover 12.

The electrical switch (not shown) is carried at the rear end of the shell 11 in any suitable manner and includes a conventional contact socket or receptacle adapted to receive a connecting plug 51 connected by an electrical cord 52 to a source of electrical supply. Hence, the cover 12 in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 formsa protective bond for the electrical switch provided to control the supply of electrical energy to the motor of the motor fan unit 21. When the cover 12 is removed to insert a clean dust bag 35 in the apertured receptacle 20, it is convenient to make use of the suction effect developed by the motor fan unit 21 to open the bag and fit the latter snugly within the receptacle.

In accordance with our invention, the suction eifect developed by the motor fan unit 21 is employed to position a clean dust bag 35 in the receptacle 20 by closing the passage 29 and providing a direct path of air flow from space 18 into space 19 through an opening 40 in the partition 17 therebetween. As shown in Fig. 2, a valve plate 41 hinged at 42 is provided to close the opening 22 when the cover 12 is removed from the shell 11. When the cover 12 is removed, the valve plate 41 is moved to its closed position by a resilient leaf spring 43. The cover 12 is provided with a pin 44 at the underside thereof which is adapted to bear and act against the valve plate 41 when the cover 12 is positioned on the shell, the pin in such case being effective to move the valve plate 41 to its open position against the biasing action of the leaf spring 43.

During operation of the cleaner, the opening 40 in partition 17 is normally closed by a disk 45 which is carried at the lower end of a lever 46 pivoted intermediate its ends at 47 to the partition. A suitable torsion spring 48 is provided at 47 to urge the disk 45 to its open'position. When the cover 12 is positioned on the shell 11, the extreme upper end of the lever 46 is held at the top part of an inclined edge of a projection 49 at the underside of the cover, as shown in Fig. 2. In this position the lever 46 effectively holds the disk 45 in its closed position at the opening 46 against the biasing action of the torsion spring 48. I

Upon removing cover 12 from the shell 11, the torsion spring 48 becomes effective to move disk 45 to its open position. At the same time valve plate 41 is moved to its closed position by the leaf spring 43. With passage 29 closed by the valve plate 41 and the spaces 13 and 19 in communication with one another through the opening 40, the full suction effect developed by the motor fan unit 21 can be effectively employed to draw a clean dust bag 35 against the inner surfaces of the apertured receptacle 20. After a clean dust bag is properly placed in position in this manner, the cover 12 can be secured in position, the pin 44 at the underside thereof being effective to open valve plate 41 againstthe action of leaf spring 43. When the cover 12 is placed in position on the shell 11, the extreme upper end of lever 46 initially will engage, the bottom part of the inclined edge of the projection 49 at. the underside of thecover, the lever 46 being in such an inclined position from the vertical due to the biasing action of the torsion spring 48.

As the cover 12 is being lowered into position, the extreme upper end of the lever 46 rides upwardly on the inclined edge of the projection 49, the link during such contact with the projection shifting counter-clockwise about its pivot at 47 and being effective to maintain disk 45 in its closed position when the cover 12 is in the position shown in Fig. 2. Hence, after the cover 12 is mounted in position on the shell 11, the opening 40 in partition 17 is closed by the disk 45 and the valve plate 41 is moved to its open position by the pin 44, so that the circulation of air will again be effected upwardly through the filter element 25 and passage 29 into the space 19. Such circulation of air is effected by the motor fan unit 21 from which air is discharged at the outlet 24 at the rear of the cleaner.

The suction cleaner 10a in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 illustrates another embodiment of the invention having a compact arrangement of parts. The suction cleaner 10a, which is also oval-shaped in horizontal section, includes a shell 11a and a removable cover 12a therefor. Runners 15a are stamped from the bottom 14a of the shell which is also provided with an apertured deck 53 to receive a dust bag 54 which is rectangular-shaped in horizontal section. The dust bag 54 is provided with a gasket 54a at the top open end thereof which is supported about the opening in the deck 53, the gasket 54a being anchored in place by parts of the cover 12a when the latter is mounted in position on the shell 11a. As shown in Fig. 4, the cover 12a is provided with a flange 55 of annular form which is arranged to overlie the gasket 54a and provide an air-tight seal :at the upper open end of the dust bag. A leg 56 at the underside of the cover 12a cooperates with the flange 55 to hold the dust bag 54 in position.

A housing 57, which is adjacent to the dust bag 54 and carried by the deck 53, is provided for the motor fan unit which includes a fan '58 driven by a motor 59. The motor fan unit is mounted on a resilient gasket 60 which cooperates with a vertical partition 61 at the underside of the cover 12a.

During operation of the suction cleaner 10a, dustladen air is drawn through the inlet 23a of conduit 26a into the space 74 immediately above the dust bag 54 and thence downwardly into the latter in which dust and dirt are separated from the air. Air free of such'dust and dirt passes through the dust bag 54 and is drawn into the suction inlet of the fan 58v at the opening 62 at the bottom of the housing 57. Air discharged by the fan 58 passes over the motor 59 and through a passage 63 to the outlet or discharge opening 64 at the rear of the cleaner.

In accordance with the invention the conduit 26:: is L-shaped and movable about the vertical axis of the upright arm or leg thereof, thus enabling the horizontal arm or leg to be iangularly shifted from one side to the opposite side of the longitudinal axis of the cleaner, as indicated by the arrow 65 in Fig. 5. As shown in Fig. 5,

- .the conduit 26a comprises. an upright hollow member rotatably mounted between a base 66 which projects outwardly from the bottom part of the shell 11a and an overhanging section 67 of the cover 12a. The base 66 is formed with a recess 68 which receives a pin 69 extending downwardly from the hollow conduit member 26a. The overhanging section 67 of the cover 12a is provided with a cdllar 70 which receives and holds the reduced neck portion 71 at the upper end of the hollow conduit member 26a.

When a hose (indicated by dotted lines at 72 in Fig. 5) is secured at the inlet end 23a of the conduit 26a in any suitable manner, the suction cleaner 16a can be freely moved about a supporting surface with the aid of such hose irrespective of the position of the cleaner. No inatter in which direction the hose is pu'lled, either in a direction lengthwise of the cleaner or at any acute angle thereto, the hollow conduit member 26a will always freely turn about'the vertical axis of the longer arm thereof to j a position more or less in alignment with the direction in which "the pulling force is applied to the hose. In this way the cleaner a can slide evenly and without a jerking movement on the supporting surface and the likelihood of tipping or turning over the cleaner is minimized, especially when a sudden pulling force is applied to the hose at a sharp angle to the lengthwise direction of the cleaner.

In Fig. 4 it will be seen that the cover 12a provides the space 74 immediately over the dust bag 54. The space 74 is sealed by the partition 61 from the space above the housing 57. Accordingly, air drawn into the inlet 23:: flows upwardly through conduit 26a into the space 74 and thence downwardly into the dust bag 54. Since the full suction effect developed by the motor fan unit is transmitted to the space 74, the suction effect of the cleaner 19a accordingly will be efiective to hold the cover 12a in position on the shell 11a. However, it will be desirable to removably secure the cover 12a mechanically in position in any suitable manner to facilitate transporting the cleaner when -not in use. Also, the cover 12a is independent of the suction inlet 230, so that the cover can be removed without disturbing the connection of the hose to the inlet.

A cord winding device, which includes a rotatable drum 75 for winding 'a rubber covered electrical cord 76 thereon, is mounted in a space 77 at the rear of cleaner 10:: with the aid of a bracket 78 forming part of a housing which may be fixed 'to the inner face of a removable wall member 78a at the end of the shell 11a. The drum 75, which includes spaced apart vertical side walls and is provided with a suitable spring (not shown) for automatically winding the electrical cord 76 thereon, is mounted in the space77 so that the shaft 79 is horizontal and at a right angle to the lengthwise direction of the cleaner.

The cord winding device is adapted to be connected to the motor 59 through the electrical switch in any suitable manner (not shown) and the outer free end of the electrical cord 76, which is adapted to be connected to a source of electrical supply, may be pulled lengthwise of the cleaner from the rear end thereof against the tension of the spring of the cord winding device. In order to hold that portion of the electrical cord 76 which has been unwound from the drum 75, a suitable foot operated braking device 80 is provided. As shown in Fig. 6, the braking device comprises a guiding and supporting roller 81 over which the electrical cord 76 passes, and a brake shoe 82 pivoted at 83 which is adapted to act o-n'the cord immediately above the roller 81. When the cord 76 is unwound from the drum 75 and then released, the spring tension developed in the cord winding device causes the cord to move to the left in Fig. 6 which in turn imparts clockwise movement to the brake shoe 82 and causes the serrated edge 84 on the [latter to frictionally engage the rubber covering of the electrical cord. The upper part of the brake shoe 82 is provided with a recessed portion 85 adapted to receive a finger 86 of a foot operated pedal 87 pivoted at 88. When the pedal 87 is depressed and moved clockwise, the finger 86 thereof engages the recessed portion '85 of the brake shoe 82 to eifect counter-clockwise movement of the latter, thus releasing the cord 76 and permitting the latter to be wound on the drum.

In 'view of the foregoing, it will now be understood that a compact arrangement of parts is provided in the cleaner 10a of Figs. 4, 5 and 6. As shown in Fig. 4, the cover 1242 includes the overhanging portion 67 at the front or air inlet end 23:: of the shell 11a. A handle 89 is provided at an intermediate depressed region of the cover 12a. It will also be observed that the discharge or outlet fitting at 64 forms a part of the cover 12a, the part of the cover between the handle 89 and outlet fitting 64 forming a hood which overlies a deck portion of the shell 11a to provide the passage 63. A suitable electrical switch 90having an operating button 91 may also be carried by the cover 12a at the vicinity of the passage 63. In such case, the electrical connections from the switch to the cord winding device and motor 59 should be of sufiicient length to permit removal of the cover 12a to gain access to the dust bag 54 and to the motor fan unit when desired.

The embodiment of Figs. 7 and 8 is generally [like the embodiment of Figs. 4, 5 and 6 and differs therefrom in that the hollow inlet conduit member 26b is pivotally mounted in its entirety on the bottom part or shell 11b of the suction cleaner 10b, and the top part of the cleaner comprises a removable cover section 12b which only extends over the dust bag 54b and inlet conduit member 26b. In Figs. 7 and 8 the runners 15b are provided at the bottom 14b -of the shell 111), the bottom having an intermediate flat section 92, a sharply rounded section 93 at the front end of the cleaner and a gently sloping section 94 at the rear end of the cleaner to facilitate moving the cleaner over a supporting surface.

The location of the dust bag 54b, motor fan unit and cord winding device in Figs. 7 and 8 is generally the same as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and described above. The braking mechanism for the electrical cord 76b is of the general type shown in Fig. 6 and diifers therefrom in that a spring 95 is provided to lifit and raise the foot operated pedal 87b when the latter is released.

However, in Figs. 7 and '8, the top part of the suction cleaner comprises aremovable section or cover 12b and a stationary part 12b which overlies the motor fan unit and cor-d winding device. The handle 89b is mounted on the part 1212' which is arranged to be fixed to the shell 11b in such manner that it is not readily separable therefrom in the same Way as the removable cover 12!) provided to gain access to the dust bag 54b. Hence, in Figs. 7 and 8 the electrical connections for the switch 92b to the motor 59b and cord winding device are never accessible in the ordinary use of the cleaner 10b.

In the embodiment of Figs. 7 and 8 the front end of the shell 11b is formed with a cavity or recess 96 which is open at the lower end thereof and partly hidden from view by an extreme end portion Q7 of the shell 1112 which in vertical section appears as a downwardly extending arm, as shown in Fig. 8.

The L-shaped inlet conduit member 26b, to which a suction -hose is adapted to be connected, is provided with a recess 98 at the lower end thereof to receive a pin99 of a bracket 160 fixed to the upstanding side wall of the shell 11a. The upper end of the conduit member 26b telescopically fits over the lower end of a hollow sleeve 101 which extends through a tubular section 102 of the shell 11b and is carried by the latter. Hence, the sleeve 101 forms a unitary part of the shell 11b and serves as an extension of the inlet conduit 26b through which dustladen airiis adapted to be drawn into space 74b.

The cover 12b is arranged to hold down the resilient gasket 54b of the dust bag 54b, the underside thereof being provided with suitable legs 103 in spaced apart relation which firmly anchor the gasket in place.

In the embodiment of Figs. 7 and 8, the cover 12b may be removed to gain access to the dust bag 5411 without disturbing the inlet conduit member 26b and the connection of the suction hose to the inlet 23b. However, the cover 12b defines the space 74b which overlies the dust bag 54b, as in the embodiment previously described. Further, the horizontally extending arm of the conduit member 26b is movable in a horizontal plane about the vertical axis of the hollow sleeve 101, thereby facilitating movement of the cleaner 10b on a supporting surface when the latter is .pulled about with the aid of a suction hose connected thereto.

The embodiment of Fig. 9 differs from the embodiment just described in that the L-shaped air inlet conduit 260 is journaled by a roller bearing 104 secured at 105 to the shell 110. The long vertical arm 106 of the inlet conduit 26c telescopicaly fits over a hollow sleeve 102c which is bent at the upper end thereof and from which air is discharged horizontally, into the space 740 above the dust bag 540. In Fig. 9 the cover 120 does not overlie the inlet conduit member or hollow sleeve, as in the embodiments previously described. The cross-sectional area of the cover 120 is essentially the same as that of the dust bag 54c. In order to anchor the gasket 54c of the dust bag firmly in place when the cover 120 is positioned theeron, suitable legs 107 may be provided at the underside of the cover which engage the gasket at spaced apart regions thereof.

In Figs. 10 and 11 the air inlet conduit 26d is journaled by a ball bearing 104d, so that the horizontal arm of the conduit can swing about a vertical axis in the same manher as in the embodiments described above. However, in Figs. 10 and 11 the vertically extending arm 102d of the air inlet conduit projects directly into a dust receptacle 35d below a dust separating member or filter element 25d generally like that shown in Fig. 2 and described above.

In accordance with the invention, the bearing 104d is mounted on the dust receptacle 35d and the latter is in dependently removable from the shell 11d. As shown in Fig. 11, the bottom part of the receptacle 35d is shaped to fit snugly in the bottom part of the shell 11d. During operation of the cleaner 10d, dust-laden air enters the receptacle 35d through the vertical arm 102d of the inlet conduit 26d, and air free of dust and dirt flows from the space above the filter element 25d through an opening 29d in the wall member 17d to the suction inlet of the motor fan unit.

The receptacle 35d, which is provided with a suitable hand grip 89d, is adapted to be removably secured .to the shell 11d in any suitable manner. When the receptacle 35d has been removed from the shell 11d, suitable mechanism is operated to open a closure member or door 108 'hinged at 109 to the bottom part of the receptacle, so that dust and dirt can be removed therefrom.

In its closed position the top free edge of the closure member 108 bears against a bumper 110, the closure member in such position being engaged by the extreme lower end of an L-shaped lever 111 which is pivoted at 112 in the top part of the receptacle. The lever 111 is resilient in character and is capable of holding the closure member 108 in its closed position when it assumes the position shown in Fig. 11. However, when a button 114, which is adapted to act against the upper end of the lever 111, is pressed downwardly, the lever moves counterclockwise about its pivot 112 so that the closure member 108 can swing freely to its open position. The button 114, which is arranged to act on the lever 111 through a spring member 115, projects upwardly through an opening in the top of the receptacle.

When the receptacle 35d is positioned in the shell 11d in the manner shown in Fig. 11, an outwardly bulging portion of the closure member 108 is engaged by a leaf spring 115' fixed to the wall member 17d. In the event the button 114 should be depressed while the receptacle 35d is positioned in the shell 11d, the closure member 108 will be firmly held in its closed position by the leaf spring 115 even when the lower end of the lever 111 is not engaging the top free edge of the closure member.

Although several embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, we do not wish to be limited to the particular arangements set forth, and we intend in the following claims to cover all modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention. However, the features shown in the embodiments of Figs. l, 2 and '3 and not illustrated in the other embodiments are being claimed in copending application Serial No. 603,928, filed August 14, 1956.

What is claimed is:

. .1. In a suction cleaner having an elongated casing provided with an inlet and an outlet at opposite ends thereof anddust separating means therein comprising a filter element for removing dust and dirt fromair circulated therethrough by a motor fan unit, means for supporting said casing on a supporting surface, wall means in said casing defining an opening which is essentially horizontal and at which region air passes vertically therethrough in its path of flow between said inlet and outlet, means for positioning said filter element at the vicinity of such opening, means for mounting said motor fan unit in said casing in side-by-side relation lengthwise of said casing with said dust separating means nearer to said inlet and said motor fan unit nearer to said outlet, the region of the horizontal opening nearest to said motor fan unit essentially defining an end limit of the space occupied lengthwise of said casing by said dust separating means, and saidinlet being constructed and formed so that, when a flexible hose is connected thereto, said hose is capable of extending from said casing in a direction essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said casing, and means for flowing vertically upward toward said filter element air drawn through said inlet, said last-mentioned means comprising structure which defines said inlet and includes conduit means providing an air passage having a bend and an arm extending vertically upward therefrom, a major part of the portion of said upwardly extending arm disposed within said casing being co-ext'ensive in height with said motor fan unit and at a diametrically opposite side of said dust separating means.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said structure, defining said inlet and said conduit means providing the bend, is so constructed and arranged that said inlet is angularly movable in a horizontal plane while said casing is being supported on the supporting surface.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which said casing includes a bottom section and a top section serving as a cover for said bottom section, and said structure defining said inlet and including said conduit means being rotatably carried between said top and bottom sections.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including bearing means for rotatably supporting said structure to move said inlet angularly in a horizontal plane while said casing is being supported on the supporting surface.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said dust separating means includes a receptacle depending vertically downward from the horizontal opening in said wall means, said filter element and receptacle constituting a section or component of said casing which is independently removable therefrom.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which said receptacle is provided with an opening and a closure member therefor, means for holding said closure member in its closed position, and manually operable means for rendering said holding means inoperable to hold said closure member in its closed position.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which said casing includes a bottom shell section shaped to receive and hold said receptacle as a component part of said casing.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 including resilient means carried by said casing w'hich coacts with the closure member of said receptacle when the latter is held in said bottom shell for maintaining said closure member in its closed position when said manually operable means is actuated.

9. In a suction cleaner having a casing provided with an inlet and an outlet and a filter element therein for removing dust and dirt from air circulated therethrough by a motor fan unit, means for supporting said casing on a supporting surface, said casing having an opening at the vicinity of said filter element and a cover therefor, said in let being disposed at a region of said casing removed from said cover, means for flowing vertically upward toward said filter element air drawn through said inlet, said lastmentioned means comprising structure which defines said inlet and includes means providing an air passage for flowing air upwardly from said inlet toward said filter element, and means for rotatably supporting said structure to move said inlet angularly about a horizontal plane while said casing is being supported on the supporting surface.

10. In a suction cleaner having a casing provided with an inlet and an outlet and a filter element therein for removing dust and dirt from air circulated therethrough by a motor fan unit, means for supporting said casing on a supporting surface, said casing having an open-top bottom section and a top section for said bottom section including a removable cover, said inlet being disposed at a region of said casing removed from said cover, structure defining said inlet which includes means providing an air passage having a bend and an upwardly extending portion for flowing air from said inlet toward said filter element, and means for supporting said structure for movement about the vertical axis of the upwardly extending portion of said passage to swing said inlet angularly in a horizontal plane w'hile said casing is being supported on the supporting surface.

11. In a suction cleaner having an elongated casing provided with an inlet and an outlet at opposite ends thereof and dust separating means therein comprising a filter element for removing dust and dirt from air circulated therethrough by a motor fan unit, means for supporting said casing on a supporting surface, a cord Winding device, means for mounting said motor fan unit and cord winding device in said casing in side-by-side relation with each other and said dust separating means, with said dust separating means at one side of said motor fan unit and nearer to said inlet and said cord winding :device at the opposite side of said motor fan unit and nearer to said outlet with respect to the direction of air flow, said cord winding device comprising a rotatable drum for winding a cord thereon which is rotatable about an axis at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of said casing, and said casing embodying means providing a passage for air from said motor fan unit to the outlet which is disposed above and overlies said cord winding device when said casing is being supported on the supporting surface.

12. In a suction cleaner having a casing provided with an inlet and an outlet and dust separating means therein for removing dust and dirt from air circulated therethrough from the inlet to the outlet by a motor fan unit, means for supporting said casing on a supporting surface, said casing having an opening and a cover therefor, means for securing said cover in a closed position at the opening and releasing said cover therefrom, said inlet being disposed at a side Wall of said casing at a region below the top thereof and adapted to receive a suction hose, and means for rendering said inlet pivotally movable with respect to said supporting means which includes provisions to enable said inlet, when the suction hose is connected thereto and being pulled sideways, to pivotally move, to gether with the suction hose, in the sideways direction in which the pull is being effected while said supporting means remains in one place on the supporting surface.

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 in which a hollow member provides said inlet and said means for rendering said inlet pivotally movable with respect to said supporting means comprises structure for pivotally mounting said hollow member on said casing.

14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 in which said hollow member is formed with a bend and two arms essentially perpendicular to one another, said structure pivotally mounting said hollow member on said casing for pivotal movement about the vertical axis of one of said arms while the other arm, to which the suction hose is adapted to be removably connected, is swingable in a horizontal plane about such axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,030,133 Baxter Feb. 11, 1936 2,116,233 Cole May 3, 1938 2,327,810 McAnerney Aug. 24, 1943 2,363,452 Swann Nov. 21, 1944 2,388,280 Nuifer et a1 Nov. 6, 1945 2,400,558 Lindberg May 21, 1946 2,439,182 Nutter et a1. Apr. 6, 1948 2,699,838 Helm-Hansen Jan. 18, 1955 

